Corfu in spring is simply beautiful. I had heard that it is fantastic for an early season holiday but hadn’t anticipated that the weather would be that glorious. For the whole trip we were blessed with clear blue skies and comfortable 25-30 degrees weather - not too bad for the first half of May!

Understandably, the sea was was still quite fresh but it didn’t stop me or numerous other visitors from taking a dip - at the end of the day you had a warm sun to dry you! As a nature lover, I was blown away by the rich vegetation and colourful blossoms adorning the island - Corfu is one of the greenest islands in Greece but Spring is particularly great for those who love to stop and smell the roses - or rather rosemary in Greek reality! Corfu has numerous walking and cycling trails and there is no better time to explore those than in Spring. Or how about witnessing a magical spectacle of fireflies while walking from your dinner from a local taverna? This also happens only early in the season.

I travelled to Corfu courtesy of Simpson travel, a well loved family-run holiday tour operator with hand picked properties around Europe. Their portfolio in Corfu is certainly very impressive - from stand alone villas, be it a traditional Greek beachfront house or a luxury hilside contemporary abode, to small charming hotels and self-catering estates. Enough to satisfy even the most discerning of guests. Their support in resort from highly experienced concierges and reps is second to none - many of them have been with the company for decades and really love what they do. 

I viewed numerous properties on the island - get in touch to discuss your next holiday. I particularly liked Rou Estate - a beautifully restored hamlet of 14 stylish and elegant houses with breathtaking views  and magnificent landscaped gardens. The atmosphere of the estate is that of an utter peace and uniting with nature - smells, sounds and views are just a treat to all your senses. With a variety of units Rou Estate is simply ideal for single or multiple families travelling together. A great place to socialise in an intimate environment or be as private as you want - the choice is yours. 

The resort that we had as our base was the lovely hotel Bella Mare - a delightful beachfront hotel overlooking the stunning Alvaki beach with only 31 rooms, most of which had royally sized terraces with enchanting views. I loved that the part of the beach where the hotel is located always felt very private. This little gem is perfect for families as it has supervised children activities in July and August. While for those seeking peace and relaxation they have a new exclusive section of the hotel with it’s own infinity pool that is adults only outside school holidays. 

On this trip we were treated to some of the best local restaurants on the island. Everyone knows that Greek food is among firm favourites around the world but the eateries we visited were just another level - mouth watering mezes, melt in your mouth seafood and excellent local wines. We will be delighted to make some recommendations on your next trip to Corfu!

Maryna travelled to Corfu with Simpson Travel in May 2022

The island of Corfu, or Kerkira how it is known in Greek is the northernmost of the Ionian islands. Being so close to the mainland the island is very verdant and fertile, with orange and olive groves covering large areas of the island. I also loved how rugged the shoreline was, with picturesque wild beaches hiding in pretty coves.

Beautiful beach in Southern Corfu

Being a mountainous island, Corfu has several stunning viewpoints with views stretching to the mainland Greece and neighbouring Albania. In fact, day boat trips to these two destinations are very popular along with an alternative of visiting Paxos and Antipaxos. The sea around these islands is stunning, the water is so turquoise that this stretch is often called Mediterranean Caribbean. It really is dreamy and numerous caves add even more to the experience. No wonder renting a boat is a very popular past time in Greece!

One of the main reasons why this island is so good for families is that it never gets too hot, even in summer the average temperature is 29-31 degrees – very comfortable compared to the southern islands. Having travelled in mid-September we were spoilt by hot and sunny weather but Corfu is excellent for spring breaks, too, when the hypnotising smell of orange blossoms fills the air. The average temperature in April is 20 degrees and is ideal for exploring Corfu old town. This UNESCO heritage site is the perfect example of Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Having travelled to Venice back in July, it was astonishing to see how similar the buildings looked! Corfu old town is built between two ancient fortresses and is resembling an open-air museum.

Lunch at a local taverna

Did you know that Prince Philip was born in Corfu and you can visit the historical Mon Repos palace where he spent his early days?
I highly recommend hiring a car or a quadbike and explore the island. I especially loved the unspoilt southern cost, covered in pine and olive trees – beach hopping there was the highlight of our trip and we particularly liked the secluded Rovinia beach.

Steps to Rovinia Beach

It is a bit of a hike down the hill, but totally worth it! Another trip highlight was stumbling on Halikounas lake full of flamingos!The Korission lagoon attracts thousands of flamingos every year and the best time for bird watching is between May and early October.

Halikounas lake

The hotel we chose as our base was MarBella Corfu, a very comfortable and popular family resort that is one of our best sellers in Corfu. The location is very scenic, overlooking the mainland and away from the hustle and bustle of busier parts of the island yet only 30 min away from Corfu town and the airport by local bus or a taxi. The resort offers several board basis options from Half Board to All inclusive. We went for Half board allowing us to have lunch in local taverns and enjoying buffet dinner at the hotel. We found the buffet to be really good, always with generous portions of Greek salad, good selection of grilled meats, fish and vegetarian dishes.

The menu was changing daily and we never got bored with the food choices available. All-inclusive clients have a chance to dine at the a la carte restaurants three times per week, as well as have other additional benefits, so upgrading is really worth it. 
Marbella Corfu boasts a blue flag beach and we loved the options of swimming off the pebble beach as well as diving right into the sea from the platforms. 

Beach at MarBella Corfu

Our Superior Seaview room was very comfortable and contemporary, with a balcony overlooking the sea. We really enjoyed our holiday to Corfu as it was a fantastic balance between relaxation and exploring. 

Give us a call on 0208 675 7878 to discuss your next holiday.

Maryna travelled to Corfu with her husband in September 2020

Venice needs no introduction, if you ask what the most famous city in the world is, I am sure it will come right at the top of the list.

As well-travelled as I am, I have never been to Venice before. One of the main reasons was over-tourism – Venice has been known to receive over 20 million tourists per year, particularly shocking considering its local population is only 55,000. But with the ban on cruise ships and diminished crowds post lockdown, I thought that there was no better time to go.

I don’t think all people realise that travelling to Venice is not just about the city alone, but also about the numerous islands scattered around it. Venice itself has a very unique geography and is sprawling over 118 submerged islands connected by over 400 bridges. Everything there is managed by waterways, from public transport to emergencies – we purchased a Vaporetto Pass during our stay. A Vaporetto is a form of public transport in Venice, like a bus or a tram in the UK. They have numbers as well as dedicated stops and a time table. With an outside seating area and fresh sea breeze, it is a far cry from the miserable commuting we are used to here.

A 24-hour Vaporetto Pass costs 20 Euros and this is such an enjoyable way to hop on and off whilst exploring the beautiful islands of the Venice lagoon. Alternatively, why not treat yourself and hire a private boat with a guide?

We visited three of the islands during our visit. Burano turned out to be our favourite, just so picturesque with its canals and colourful houses, it has a real fishing village feel and is famous for its lace-making. It takes about 45 minutes to reach it from Venice.

If you are looking for a trattoria to eat like a local, Burano is known for their seafood dishes, the most famous of which is the “risotto de gò”: the broth in which the rice is cooked is extracted from the “gò” a fish typical of the Venice lagoon.

Torcello is located only a few minutes away from Burano and is very rural and green in comparison and is a beautiful spot for lunch – if you haven’t been treating yourself already to some Risotto de go! We were particularly delighted with a carafe of locally produced Prosecco served from a tap!! ! Due to the density of buildings, Venice itself can’t boast of much greenery, which is why Torcello provides a very contrasting experience with its peacefulness, loud crickets and vineyards. The island is sparsely populated and provides an interesting glimpse into island living.

Tourists come to visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, with its Venetian-Byzantine mosaics and the views of nearby Burano from the bell tower, or to check out the Ponte del Diavolo, a bridge with no parapets, and the stone seat known as Trono di Attila. 

And lastly we visited Murano the island closest to Venice that has been famous for centuries for its glass making. 

When in Venice do not miss out on visiting these islands. If only we had more time to visit other nearby islands like Lido, where Venetians go for some beach time. 

We had a chance to experience two properties in Venice. We were beyond impressed with our stay at Aman Venice. Arguably the most exclusive hotel in Venice, this historic palazzo has the largest front garden overlooking the Grand Canal in the city and only 24 keys. The rooms are contemporary and very spacious with the most comfortable beds and a free minibar. With the limited number of rooms and a great number of common areas, one does feel like a valued guest of a Venetian prince. I can’t recommend it highly enough for the discrete yet attentive service, fabulous cuisine and the tranquil atmosphere. A very special property for special occasions!

The second property was the lovely Londra Palace overlooking the Lagoon. It is a member of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux group and a perfect option for those looking to stay in the very centre of the city – St Mark’s Square is literally around the corner and a Vaporetto stop is just in front of the hotel. The hotel is charming and intimate, each room unique due to original architecture but always comfortable and with beautiful views, be it the lagoon or the red roofs of the city. We loved our room with a balcony overlooking the lagoon!

For sure our trip to Venice was enjoyable, even more so with a chance to visit all these pretty islands. Can’t recommend it enough!

Call us on 0208 675 7878 to discuss your holiday to Venice!

Maryna travelled to Italy with her husband in July 2020

Africa specialist tour operators have come together to support African rangers & wildlife by embarking on a cumulative bike ride which is being kick-started with an initial Land’s End to John O’ Groats challenge starting at 9 am on 15th August 2020 where a core peloton of 10 people will be joined by 40+ others, all of whom are combining mileage working towards a 30,000KM total – the equivalent of circumnavigating Africa.

Ride 4 Rangers is an initiative by the UK Africa Travel Industry in aid of Tusk which will see the team ride the 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and is inviting hundreds of fellow Africa Travel industry professionals, Africa and wildlife lovers to join them on the way. The ride is part of the wider Wildlife Ranger Challenge, launched to support thousands of wildlife rangers across the African continent to face the threats posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, every pound donated to Ride 4 Rangers will be matched by the Scheinberg Relief Fund.

We miss our incredible opportunities to connect with nature and animals on an unbelievably intimate level. The African continent has been beyond generous to all its visitors over the past 150 years, hosting us and enchanting us each and every time. This time, it is our chance to give something in return and help support our beloved Wildlife Rangers.

Kenya’s number of elephants have more than doubled since 1989 thanks to a mission to stop poaching. All of these conservation efforts have had positive outcomes over time however, because of a decrease in the number of international tourism, the very animals we’ve been protecting for so long, are now at risk. This is our chance to make a difference and participate in a not only charitable activity, but also an experience that will benefit our mental and physical wellbeing. Cycling has countless proven benefits such as increased cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength and flexibility, improved joint mobility, decreased stress levels, improved posture and coordination.

Alongside the Land’s End to John O’Groats ride, 15th August also marks the start of a series of global Ride4Rangers events and activities where Africa and wildlife lovers across the UK, Europe and 9 African Nations (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique) are getting involved clocking their own miles and raising vital funds.

The route will journey throughout the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats via traditional LEJOG routes. For the full map visit:

 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33296734 

Wondering how to get involved?

Visit www.ride4rangers.com

15 Aug–29 Aug Join all or part of the ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats

or

Do your own Ride 4 Rangers at home, in a park, around your garden 5, 10, 20, 50 KM

Ride 10KM, Donate £10, Nominate 3 People

or

Simply donate on our crowdfunding page